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Largest ever seizure of methamphetamines in Australia

585kg of methamphetamines were found in a shipment smuggled from ChinaAustralian police say three men are due in court over the haulPolice Commissioner Tony Negus said the drugs had a street value of over AUS$400m

Australian police have announced their largest ever seizure of methamphetamines.

The drugs were smuggled into Sydney hidden in shipments of chemicals from China.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Tony Negus said the 585kg of the drug would have sold for AUS$438m (€342m).

The haul was almost double the previous Australian record of 306kg of the drug, known as ice, which was seized in Sydney in July last year.

Three men - an Australian, a Singaporean and a Hong Kong passport holder – are due to appear in a Sydney court charged with attempting to possess the drug.

They face life sentences if convicted.

Australia is becoming an increasingly lucrative market for international drug networks because of the strength of the local currency and resilience of the national economy compared to other wealthy nations.

The police investigation began in September last year in response to a tip-off from the public.